Abstract: The present invention provides a system which allows for a smooth conversation between a caller and a call-responder in a telephone call which has been transferred. The system (i) conducts, on the basis of a result of voice recognition of a speech voice of a user in a telephone call from the user, a search for response content of a response to be given to an inquiry made by the user in the telephone call, (ii) transmits an audio signal indicative of the response content to a user terminal (1), (iii) transfers the telephone call to a terminal (200), and (iv) causes information indicative of content of the inquiry to be displayed on a display section (230).

Abstract: A home-appliance system is provided that may alleviate user's stress or fatigue. The interactive home-appliance system includes an utterance unit, a voice input unit for accepting input of a reply to voice, a storage unit for storing an assessment criterion for assessing stress or fatigue based on conversation with an utterer and data for outputting voice alleviating stress or fatigue, a determination unit for determining the utterer's stress or fatigue based on the assessment criterion and the reply, and a drive mechanism for performing an operation for assisting in the utterer's life. The utterance unit is configured to output an utterance based on the determination result and the data.

Abstract: A method of controlling an interactive system includes the steps of: referring to a storage portion storing a plurality of response information about a manner of operation responsive to a user, each associated with a priority serving as an index when being selected; selecting one response information in accordance with the priorities of the plurality of response information; executing response processing for the user based on the selected response information; accepting voice input for the response processing from the user; evaluating the user's reaction to the response processing based on a manner of voice of the accepted voice input; and changing the priority of the selected response information stored in the storage portion based on an evaluation result.

Abstract: A home-appliance system is provided that may alleviate user's stress or fatigue. The interactive home-appliance system includes an utterance unit, a voice input unit for accepting input of a reply to voice, a storage unit for storing an assessment criterion for assessing stress or fatigue based on conversation with an utterer and data for outputting voice alleviating stress or fatigue, a determination unit for determining the utterer's stress or fatigue based on the assessment criterion and the reply, and a drive mechanism for performing an operation for assisting in the utterer's life. The utterance unit is configured to output an utterance based on the determination result and the data.

Abstract: A method of controlling an interactive system includes the steps of: referring to a storage portion storing a plurality of response information about a manner of operation responsive to a user, each associated with a priority serving as an index when being selected; selecting one response information in accordance with the priorities of the plurality of response information; executing response processing for the user based on the selected response information; accepting voice input for the response processing from the user; evaluating the user's reaction to the response processing based on a manner of voice of the accepted voice input; and changing the priority of the selected response information stored in the storage portion based on an evaluation result.

Abstract: The apparatus control method includes the steps of designating at least one notification apparatus, determining notification information, judging a status of the designated notification apparatus, and transmitting the notification information to the designated notification apparatus in accordance with a judgment result obtained in the status judging step.

Abstract: A speaking control method including a switching step of switching between answer options for an answer to a user in a case where a sound level of target audio data falls within a first predetermined sound-level range, the answer options being associated with a case where audio data content indicated by the target audio data is recognized and a case where the audio data content is not recognized, respectively.

Abstract: A communication device of the present invention which is realized as a video communication device (1) includes: a communication control section (2) for establishing communication connection with other communication device; a content receiving section (6) for obtaining content data from the outside; and a content transmission section (8) for specifying another communication device as a communication device, to which the obtained content data should be transmitted, if connection with said another communication device is established when the content receiving section (6) obtains the content data, so that it is possible to easily share the content data, obtained from the outside, with the communication counterpart device with which the communication connection has been established.

Abstract: A communication device of the present invention which is realized as a video communication device (1) includes: a communication control section (2) for establishing communication connection with other communication device; a content receiving section (6) for obtaining content data from the outside; and a content transmission section (8) for specifying another communication device as a communication device, to which the obtained content data should be transmitted, if connection with said another communication device is established when the content receiving section (6) obtains the content data, so that it is possible to easily share the content data, obtained from the outside, with the communication counterpart device with which the communication connection has been established.

Abstract: A paper identification counter comprises a counter body, a hopper which is formed to the counter body and to which papers to be identified and counted are fed, a paper conveyance unit including a conveyance passage along which the papers such as currency notes from the hopper is conveyed one by one in a direction of a short width side of the papers, a paper identification unit disposed on a way of the conveyance passage for identifying and counting the papers; and a stacker in which the papers delivered from the conveyance passage are stacked. The conveyance passage includes a U-shaped curvilinear conveyance region on a way between the hopper and the stacker.

Abstract: A sheet discriminating/counting machine selects sheets to be discriminated of a predetermined country or region by discrimination object selecting means, transports the sheets to be discriminated at high speed along a transporting path, and performs sheet discriminating/counting processing at a sheet discriminating/counting unit disposed along the transporting path. The sheet discriminating/counting machine comprises: a hopper to which sheets to be discriminated are supplied; a sheet transporting device for transporting sheets supplied to the hopper one by one along a transporting path with the shorter side of each sheet parallel to the transporting direction; a sheet discriminating unit disposed along the transporting path for discriminating/counting sheets; and a stacker upon which sheets fed out from the transporting path are stacked.

Abstract: A paper identification counter comprises a counter body, a hopper which is formed to the counter body and to which papers to be identified and counted are fed, a paper conveyance unit including a conveyance passage along which the papers such as currency notes from the hopper is conveyed one by one in a direction of a short width side of the papers, a paper identification unit disposed on a way of the conveyance passage for identifying and counting the papers; and a stacker in which the papers delivered from the conveyance passage are stacked. The conveyance passage includes a U-shaped curvilinear conveyance region on a way between the hopper and the stacker.

Abstract: A paper identification counter comprises a counter body, a hopper which is formed to the counter body and to which papers to be identified and counted are fed, a paper conveyance unit including a conveyance passage along which the papers such as currency notes from the hopper is conveyed one by one in a direction of a short width side of the papers, a paper identification unit disposed on a way of the conveyance passage for identifying and counting the papers; and a stacker in which the papers delivered from the conveyance passage are stacked. The conveyance passage includes a U-shaped curvilinear conveyance region on a way between the hopper and the stacker.